Stewarding the Gift of Time

Time is one of our most precious resources, yet it's often the one we manage least intentionally. Unlike money that can be earned back or possessions that can be replaced, time moves in only one direction - forward. Once a moment passes, it's gone forever.

Understanding the Reality of Time

Your Time on Earth is Limited

Moses wrote in Psalm 90:12, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." This isn't meant to discourage us, but to awaken us to the preciousness of each day we're given.

James describes our lives with a humbling metaphor: "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14). While this might seem sobering, it's liberating when we understand that recognizing our mortality helps us live with greater purpose.

The statistics are clear - 100% of people living today will eventually die. Apart from Christ's second coming, none of us are getting out of this life alive. This isn't meant to create fear, but to inspire intentional living.

Satan Wants to Steal Your Time

Jesus warned us that "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). One of Satan's primary strategies is to steal our time by keeping us busy with things that don't matter eternally.

If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy. He wants to fill your calendar with unnecessary activities that prevent you from doing what's truly important. The apostle Paul warned about this in Ephesians 5:15-16: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

The opportunities to waste time have never been greater. Through technology and endless distractions, we can easily spend hours on activities that provide no lasting value or benefit to ourselves or others.

We Must Redeem Our Time

The word "redeem" in Ephesians 5:16 is an economic term meaning to gain possession of something in exchange for payment. Redeeming our time means we must pay a price - we must sacrifice some things to gain others.

This requires learning to say no to good things so we can say yes to God things. Not everything that fills our time is necessarily evil or immoral - some activities are simply unproductive uses of the limited time we've been given.

How Do We Steward Our Time Well?

What Does It Mean to Be a Steward?

Stewardship is recognizing that God is the ultimate owner of everything we possess, and we're simply caretakers. This includes our time, money, relationships, and abilities. The principle is simple: "It's in my hand, but it doesn't belong to me."

Just as we wouldn't carelessly spend someone else's money, we shouldn't carelessly spend God's time. Every person has exactly 24 hours each day - the question isn't how much time we have, but what we're doing with the time we've been given.

Three Practical Steps to Redeem Your Time

1. Prioritize Monthly

At least once a month, take time to look at your calendar and ask: "What's coming up in the next 30 days?" This is where you implement Jesus' teaching to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

Put God on your calendar. Schedule church services, Bible study time, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines. If it's not on your calendar, it's easy for it not to happen.

Where you put your time, money, and thoughts reveals your true priorities. You can say your family is important, but if you never spend time with them, your actions reveal different priorities.

2. Align Daily

After setting monthly priorities, align your daily schedule with those bigger goals. Each morning, look at your day and ask: "What can I do today that will help me accomplish my monthly priorities?"

This is what Psalm 90:12 means by "number our days" - being intentional about how we spend each day. Many people find that starting the day with God through prayer and Bible reading sets a foundation that makes the rest of the day more productive and peaceful.

When we seek first God's kingdom each morning, He often orchestrates our day in ways that accomplish more than we could on our own. God can do more in four seconds than we can do in 40 hours when we align our priorities with His.

3. Reflect Weekly

The Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20 isn't just about rest - it's about reflection. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God."

Weekly reflection allows us to ask: "How am I doing? What's working? What needs to change?" This isn't just about productivity - it's about sustainability. We need regular time to be filled up by God so we can continue serving effectively.

Many people are living at an unsustainable pace. Working 60-80 hours week after week will eventually cause something to break - your health, relationships, or mental well-being. God designed us to need regular rest and reflection.

The Priority Principle

Why First Things Must Come First

Imagine a jar filled with large apples, smaller rocks, and gravel. If you put the gravel in first, you can't fit the apples and rocks. But if you put the apples first, then the rocks, then the gravel, everything fits perfectly.

This illustrates why we must put first things first in our schedules. When we fill our calendars with small, urgent tasks (gravel), there's no room for the important things (apples). But when we schedule the important things first, the smaller tasks find their proper place.

What Are Your "Big Rocks"?

Your relationship with God, time with family, personal health, and meaningful work should be the "big rocks" that get scheduled first. Everything else should fit around these priorities, not the other way around.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to implement these three steps: prioritize monthly, align daily, and reflect weekly. Start by putting God on your calendar - schedule specific times for prayer, Bible reading, and church attendance.

Ask yourself these questions:

- What activities am I currently doing that provide no lasting value?

- How can I better align my daily schedule with my stated priorities?

- What do I need to say "no" to so I can say "yes" to what God is calling me to do?

- Am I living at a sustainable pace, or do I need to build in more time for rest and reflection?

Remember, the goal isn't just to be more productive - it's to be a faithful steward of the time God has entrusted to you. Your time is a gift from God, and how you use it is your gift back to Him. Make it count for eternity.